Feb. 16, 2006

Columbus, Ohio--After relay action last night, the Illinois Women's Swimming and Diving team headed into the second day of Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio with preliminaries starting at 11am CT.

Jacqueline Murphy, Lindsey Shirley, Kelly Funk and Becca Poetz each won their heats in preliminary action setting best times on the year, yet was not enough to make it to the finals.

Murphy improved her seed time of 5:21.03 by swimming a 5:13.40 500 free while Lindsey Shirley crushed her best time of 5:07.87 to under four minutes in 4:55.72. In a very competitive 50 free field, Poetz made a NCAA `B' cut in 23.29, yet was three places shy of making the finals. Poetz now holds the fourth fastest 50 free time in the all time school record book.

In exciting back-to-back heats, Meghan Farrell and Barbie Viney won their heats, moving them into the championship action later tonight. In her swim, Farrell made a NCAA `B' cut time securing her place in Athens, Georgia and moved up the all time school record book behind record holder Barbie Viney.

Preliminary action welded 18 of 19 swimmers improving on best times.

Finals start tonight at 6pm CT including the 200 free relay.

In 1-meter preliminary diving, Marina Mendoza finished 33rd with 195.40 and Jackie Bain finished 36th with 184.30.